It's the 25th and that means it is time for the Keeping Christmas Blog Hop! I didn't actually participate last month so I'm feeling a little bit behind of where I want to be! I'm sure I'll have time to catch up when all of the cute new Christmas stamp ...

It's the 25th and that means it is time for the Keeping Christmas Blog Hop! I didn't actually participate last month so I'm feeling a little bit behind of where I want to be! I'm sure I'll have time to catch up when all of the cute new Christmas stamp set start to come out in September! One of the things that I like to have on hand is gift card holders. For some reason I think that I won't need as many as I end up by actually needing. I guess I have learned my lesson {finally} and I'm getting prepared!

I recently bought a bunch of Papertrey Ink dies that I have been on my wish list. They've just been sitting there waiting for a time like this! I used the Gift Card Cozy Die to die cut 4 of them using some old SU! pattern paper. I'm pretty much down to scraps but they were the perfect size to get these cut. I really like that the paper is double sided so that the inside is cute, too!

I used one of my favorite stamp sets, Deck The Halls, to decorate the gift card holders. I die cut everything out of Vintage Cream cardstock with the Deck The Halls Die Collection. The wreaths are attached with foam squares just below the slit to tuck the flap. It is a little tricky to get them closed, but since the pattern paper isn't heavy weight, it isn't a problem. Most people won't be shutting it again anyway; grab the loot and toss! LOL! The "fa la la la la" sentiment is stamped in black and then trimmed with a notched edge.

I also decorated the back of each of the gift card holders. I stamped one of the included sentiments in black onto a scrap of Vintage Cream cardstock. I used an old SU! oval punch to quickly punch them out. I attached them to the back using foam squares as well as the bows.

These came together quickly, which is always a plus! I hope you get a chance to stop by all of the designers' blogs to see what they have created! Thanks for fluttering by!

Welcome to this week's Ink To Paper Saturday Showcase! Today a few of us are showcasing the newly released Many Anemones stamp set to give you some fresh inspiration on how versatile this set can be! You can head to the Ink To Paper Blog to see how the other participating designers have used this set.

I absolutely love using watercolors on heat embossed line art images. The Many Anemones stamp set is so perfect for this technique because of the delicate results you can achieve. I kept my watercoloring loose for a soft and subtle effect.

To begin this design, I heat embossed each of the three line art images in the set using white powder on watercolor paper. Once that was done, I watercolored each image. I used the coordinating Many Anemones die collection to cut them out. I also stamped some leaves using regular die ink and set all of those aside.

I die cut an oval using the Pierced Feature Frames Oval dies. I had originally planned on using the frame portion, but in the end, just used the center portion to stamp the sentiment. It was the perfect focal point to arrange the Anemones around.

I attached a piece of Bitty Big: Pale Peony pattern paper onto a piece of 4 by 5 1/4 inch white cardstock and then used my sewing machine to add some zig zag stitching to the bottom. I splattered some black ink all over the panel using a fine point paintbrush. After it had dried, I got to work arranging all of the leaves and flowers. I also added some of the line die cuts to two of the flowers for some added detail. A few sparkling clear sequins and some shimmer spray finish of this design! Thanks for fluttering by!

I'm thrilled to be here today sharing my bright and colorful "sending you sunshine" card! We've had rain pretty much every day for the last I don't know how many days! Sunshine peeks through here and there, but this card is certainly fitting for the weather we've been having! I'm pretty confident that with this cute duck sporting a pink polka dot umbrella and splashing around, this is sure to send some sunshine!

I've been dying to use the new Over The Rainbow Confetti Cuts paired with the Square & Circle Frame Confetti Cuts so that was the jumping point of my design. The arc of the rainbow and the arc of the die cut circle didn't quite match up, but I decided to go for it anyway. In the end, I added so many other details that it's hardly noticeable! LOL!

I had a bunch of rainbow pieces left over from my rainbow cards I made during the release, so I just sort of scrambled up the order and made my own custom rainbow! The clouds are die cut and then I did some ink blending as well as some ink splattering on them for a rainy day feel! I also added some extra detail by layering the largest square from the Stitched Squares Confetti Cuts over the card. The background paper is from the Sweet Stripes 6 by 6 pattern paper pad. The diagonal lines kind of bring in the look of diagonal rain falling, which I love.

I stamped the umbrella, which is from the Rainy Day Fun stamp set, onto a piece of white cardstock and again onto a piece of Darling Dots pattern paper. I fussy cut the polka dot portion and adhered it to the other stamped image using liquid glue. I die cut it using the Rainy Day Fun Confetti Cuts. Once that was done, I gave it a good coat of Crystal Glaze for some shine! The duck's bill, feet and "splashes" all got some as well!

The duckie, puddle, and "splash" images are all from the Rainy Day Fun stamp set as well. I think the duck looks so cute holding the pink umbrella and splashing around! The sentiment is stamped in black onto a white strip and then added to the top of the card using foam squares. This entire card has SO many foam squares it is kindof comical! This one is definitely not going to be able to be mailed unless I put it in a special box or something! LOL! I had a lot of fun on this design! Thanks for fluttering by!

I think it's quite obvious that I took this challenge pretty literal, but I'll explain some of my design choices as I go along in today's post!

To begin today's card, I used the Hanging Florals die set to die cut both the main floral image as well as the bow at the top. I actually die cut two of the main piece because the paper that I grabbed seemed lighter weight than usual, so I wanted to double it up.

Once that was done, I stamped the images using black ink and then colored everything using alcohol markers. I set the die cut pieces aside and got to work on the background.

I paired the Pretty Frames 2 die with an embossing mat to dry emboss the frames rather than die cut it. I really like the texture that it gives the background and that was what I was hoping to achieve for today's design. The woodgrain pattern on the inspiration photo is just lovely, so I chose to do a pattern of my own by dry embossing the frame. I also die cut the center portion of the frame so that I could use it to stamp the sentiment and give the card added dimension.

One it was embossed, I added some ink blending around the edges using Scattered Straw Distress Oxide ink. I also added some ink splatters using the same ink, making sure that I added it on the center piece as well.

The "love" die cut is from the Essentials: Classic Words die set. I die cut it three times and glued them together using Scrappy Glue. I also added some ink blending to this as well to give it some definition.

Once I had all of the card elements made, I adhered the blended panel to an A2 top folding card using foam squares. The center panel is adhered using foam squares as well, with the "love" word adhered using liquid glue. The hanging floral image is attached using a double thickness of foam squares so that it would float above the center panel. The bow is also attached using foam squares.

I added some Essentials: Crystal Mix in pink to the flowers and the bow. I also added a trio of sparkling clear sequins around the sentiment. The entire card is spritzed with Shimmer Spray for some sparkle and shine!

I had so much fun creating today's card! I hope you'll get a chance to join us this week! Thanks for fluttering by!

*When you use the links provided in my post, I may receive a small commission at no expense to you. I only link products that I truly love and use!

Hello and welcome! I am beyond thrilled to be helping Pinkfresh Studios again this month with their May Essentials Release Blog Hop! There is an amazing line up of designers that I will link below, so make sure you stop at each of their blogs and leave a comment for a chance to win a $25 dollar gift certificate to the Pinkfresh Studios Shop! ALSO, there will be an additional chance to win the ENTIRE release on the Pinkfresh Studio Blog as well as on their Instagram, so make sure you head there as well! You'll want to head to the Giveaway Page on May 27th to see if you won! You have 2 weeks to claim your prize!

I have 3 projects I am sharing with you today so make sure you scroll to the bottom to see all of them! Before I dive into the details of my projects, here is the list of the designers on the hop! The May release is AMAZING, so you'll definitely want to see how all of the designers used everything in their unique way!

Pinkfresh Studios will be offering two shopping promos during the release:

First is a free XO die with purchase.There is no code necessary, and the die will automatically load into your cart.

We will also be offering free/discounted shipping from May 20-26th on orders $50+. They must use the code MAYESSFREESHIP50. Shipping is free in the USA, and $5.50 off for our International friends.

I am just going to be completely honest with you up front! This is one of those releases that is so jam packed with goodness that you won't want to stop playing! Literally, I have so many ideas that I can't wait to try! The possibilities are endless and I just scratched the surface! To begin, I played around with the newly released Hanging Florals stamp set paired with one of the new essentials being showcased today; Pretty Frames 2 die.

To begin this design, I die cut two of the Hanging Florals die cut set and then stamped them using my MISTI. Once they were stamped, I colored them using an assortment of alcohol markers. I also gave them a bit of Wink of Stella here and there for some shine.

Can you see those pretty little gems in the right hand side of my photograph? I literally squealed when I saw them! They are called Essentials: Crystal Mix and come in a set of a bunch of colors! Now, before you tell yourself you don't NEED anymore gems, let me tell you why you need THESE gems! For many of you who visit often, I've used sparkling clear rhinestones for quite a while now. I've shared a fun little trick of the trade and that is to glue them UPSIDE DOWN! They sparkle so much better like this and they stay glued down even after being mailed! Now, let me tell you about these little babies; they have a flat side that can be glued, but still allows the gems to shine at their fullest! It is awesome! They have a few different sizes mixed into each vial so you can add variation to your designs, which I am always searching for. I used these beautiful pink ones on this card! There is also a new Essentials: Jewel Mix that is gorgeous as well!

Once I had the flowers colored, glittered, and bedazzled, I set them aside to get started on the beautiful frame! I didn't quite know how the entire piece would die cut so I ran it through to get an idea. I chose this beautiful Aqua color which turned out perfectly for my card. As you can see, it cuts into a bunch of different frames, or you can leave it as is, like I did. I took off the very outer piece as well as the inside so that my sentiment could show. I also notched out two of the triangles on the side to sort of "point" to the sentiment.

I attached the two floral images and then cut them using some sharp scissors. I will definitely be using this stamp set again ASAP to use it in its more intended way.

My second project switches gears to a more vintage vibe to create an unexpected "thank you" card for my son's teacher. I absolutely love this sentiment, which is included in the Fruitastic stamp set, that I used on today's card! I combined a few of the new May Essentials to create this card! To begin, I used the Lacey Edgers die to die cut a white panel. I layered a piece of green paper over the top and then used my sewing machine to add some white machine stitching.

I layered that piece onto a 4 by 5 1/4 inch piece of blue cardstock using foam squares. I used the Braided Circles die set to die cut the two small circles. I mounted those onto the green panel using foam squares. The cut outs of these circles remind me of the way fruit looks when it is cut; the way the seeds look, if that makes sense. I thought these circles would be perfect showcase this yummy looking fruit!

I die cut the fruit using the Fruitastic Die set and then got to work stamping the images. I used my MISTI so that I could get a nice crisp and saturated image. Of course I had to add a few more of the Essentials: Crystal Mix rhinestones here and there.

The sentiment is stamped in black and then trimmed down. I used some scissors to add the notches on the ends. I attached it to the center of the card using foam squares. I normally don't put my sentiments directly in the middle of my designs, but it worked nicely for this design.

My 3rd and final project for today is a set of tags that I made using the fabulous new Facny Label Frames die set. Once again, the possibilities for these are endless, but I decided to use them for these tags that I plan on using on gifts for teachers, aids, etc. for the end of the school year.

I die cut the largest of each of the included dies out of white cardstock twice, so I would end up with 6 tags total. I also die cut the smallest of each of the dies using Kraft paper after I had stamped the "making me feel special" sentiment which is from the Oval Foliage stamp set. Before I added those dies, I stamped the foliage, which is also from the Oval Foliage stamp set as well as the "thank you for" sentiment. I added some black paint splatter over each of the tags.

Once those had dried, I added the smaller sentiment using foam squares. I also added some eyelets at the top using my Crop-a-dile. I also looped some black baker's twine through the holes so they will be ready to go! I had so much fun with this release! Thanks for fluttering by!